Morbid

Morbid

by Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart

It’s a lighthearted nightmare in here, weirdos! Morbid is a true crime, creepy history and all things spooky podcast hosted by an autopsy technician and a hairstylist. Join us for a heavy dose of research with a dash of comedy thrown in for flavor. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Morbid ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Get AI-powered summaries of Morbid

Never miss key insights. Receive episode summaries straight to your inbox.

Recent Episodes

Atlanta Constituion . 1913. "Frank and Lee ordered held by coroner's jury for Mary Phagan murder." Atlanta Constitution , May 9: 1. Atlanta Constitution. 1915. "Mob's own story in detail." Atlanta Co...

Summary Preview

This episode covers the tragic 1913 murder of 13-year-old Mary Fagan at the National Pencil Company in Atlanta, Georgia, and the subsequent wrongful conviction and lynching of factory superintendent Leo Frank. The case exposes widespread corruption, racism, and anti-Semitism in the Atlanta justice system, with police fabricating evidence and manipulating witnesses to convict an innocent man while ignoring the actual killer.

  • Mary Fagan's Life and Murder
  • The Incompetent and Racist Investigation

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

Anyone with any knowledge of his disappearance is encouraged to reach out to the family through their 24/7 tip line at 844-602-0660, or to the Buckeye Police Department at 623-349-6411. When twenty-f...

Summary Preview

This episode covers the disappearance of Daniel Robinson, a 24-year-old geologist who vanished from a work site in the Arizona desert in June 2021. Hosts Ash and Elena detail Daniel's life, his mysterious disappearance, the discovery of his crashed Jeep three miles from the work site weeks later, and the family's frustrations with the Buckeye Police Department's investigation. The case involves suspicious circumstances including Daniel's unusual behavior before vanishing, a car crash that doesn't make sense forensically, and evidence suggesting the scene may have been staged.

  • Daniel Robinson's Background and Character
  • The Day Daniel Disappeared

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

By the time Michael Peterson went to trial, the case had attracted national attention, particularly after details about his personal life came to light, particularly his numerous affairs with men. The...

Summary Preview

This episode examines the mysterious death of Kathleen Peterson, known as the 'Staircase Murder.' Part two focuses on shocking revelations about Michael Peterson's past, including another woman's suspicious staircase death in Germany, Michael's bisexuality and extramarital affairs, and the controversial trial that captivated public attention. The case raises profound questions about justice, reasonable doubt, and the limitations of forensic science.

  • Elizabeth Ratliff's Death and Exhumation
  • Family Fractures and Civil Lawsuits

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

When Kathleen Peterson died in December 2001, it was assumed her death had been the result of an accidental fall down the stairs after combining alcohol and Valium. However, within a few weeks, suspic...

Summary Preview

In this first part of a two-part series on the Michael Peterson case, hosts Ash and Elena explore the mysterious death of Kathleen Peterson, who was found dead at the bottom of her stairs in 2001. The episode details Michael and Kathleen's seemingly idyllic blended family life, the discovery of her body, the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, and shocking revelations about Michael's private life. The case takes a dramatic turn when investigators discover similarities to another staircase death from Michael's past involving Elizabeth Ratliff in Germany.

  • The Perfect Couple: Michael and Kathleen's Love Story
  • Mounting Pressures and the Fatal Night

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

When Tina Bowen and her sister, Karen, began hearing knocking in the walls of their home in Pepperell, Massachusetts, the girls believed it was their recently deceased mother trying to reach out to th...

Summary Preview

This episode covers the disturbing crimes of Daniel LaPlante, a 16-year-old who terrorized families in Pepperell, Massachusetts in the 1980s. After being rejected by teenage girl Tina Bowen, LaPlante spent months living in the walls of her family's home, eventually escalating to armed home invasion. Released on bail, he went on to commit a horrific triple murder of a pregnant woman and her two children before being captured during a dramatic manhunt.

  • Introduction and Initial Haunting of the Bowen Family
  • The Basement Discovery and Police Dismissal

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Stamford, Connecticut  was terrorized by a killer who was strangling women and leaving their bodies by the side of the parkway. After four years and five confirm...

Summary Preview

Elena and Ash cover the tragic Stanford Bra Murders from the late 1960s and early 1970s, a series of unsolved murders of women in Stanford, Connecticut. The case highlights systemic failures in police investigation, particularly regarding crimes against Black women and sex workers. Despite mounting evidence against one suspect, police focused on another man who was later acquitted, leaving the case officially unsolved while compelling evidence points to a different perpetrator.

  • The First Victims: Rosellen Pazda and Donna Roberts
  • Gloria Khan and the Pattern Emerges

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

Weirdos! For August's BONUS EPISODE we are focusing on an entity that has MANY faces and wears MANY hats: The bogeyman! For as long as people have been telling stories, these supernatural beings have ...

Summary Preview

In this bonus 'Let's Boogie' episode, the hosts explore the folklore of boogeymen from around the world, examining how different cultures create supernatural figures to instill fear and control behavior, particularly in children. They discuss three distinct entities: La Llorona from Latin American folklore, Jenny Greenteeth from English countryside tales, and the modern internet-born Slenderman, analyzing how these figures reflect societal anxieties and evolve with cultural changes.

  • Introduction to Boogeyman Folklore
  • La Llorona: The Weeping Woman

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

Weirdos! Grab your PJ's, some Aqua Net, and your favorite blue eye shadow and get ready to burn the midnight oil with us! This time, Deb has found 90's tales that will ensure that you're not the first...

Summary Preview

A 90s-themed Morbid podcast episode featuring three chilling listener tales involving paranormal encounters, near-abductions, and supernatural experiences. The hosts, Ash and Alaina, dressed in 90s attire, share stories about a woman who found her childhood Barbie Lamborghini through mysterious dreams after her mother's death, a theater student who prevented an abduction while dressed as an elf, and a family haunted by a Ouija board that traveled over a thousand kilometers on its own.

  • A Dreamy Discovery: Finding a Lost Barbie Lamborghini Through Dreams
  • The Christmas Elf Who Prevented a Kidnapping

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

When Ellie Green left her house on the night of June 19, 2019, she thought she and her mother would continue their conversation the following day. However, Ellie says that she was shocked to discover ...

Summary Preview

Ash and Elena discuss the mysterious disappearance of Angela Green, a Chinese immigrant living in Kansas who vanished in June 2019. Her husband Jeff claimed she was hospitalized for mental health issues and later died, but provided no death certificate or concrete evidence. Her daughter Ellie was kept in the dark for months before discovering there were no records of her mother's death anywhere, leading to a police investigation that remains unsolved.

  • Angela Green's Background and Life in Kansas
  • Ellie Goes to College and Angela's Mental Health Decline

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

After killing his family in the winter of 1971, John List went on the run, initiating a worldwide manhunt that would last nearly twenty years before he was finally apprehended. In that time, the List ...

Summary Preview

This Morbid podcast episode covers the capture and trial of John List, who murdered his entire family in 1971 and evaded capture for 18 years. After establishing himself under a new identity as Robert Clark, List was finally caught in 1989 following an America's Most Wanted episode, thanks to a neighbor who recognized him from the show's age-progression rendering.

  • John List's Early Life and Family Background
  • Marriage to Helen and Growing Financial Struggles

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

In early December 1971, after a month of watching the lightbulbs in the List house slowly burn out one after another, neighbors finally became concerned about the List family and called the Westfield,...

Summary Preview

This episode covers Part 1 of the John List case, a shocking family annihilation that occurred in Westfield, New Jersey in November 1971. John List, a devout Lutheran who was extremely antisocial with neighbors yet active in church, methodically murdered his entire family - his wife Helen, mother Alma, and three children Patricia, John Jr., and Frederick. The bodies went undiscovered for 28 days in their 19-room mansion while church music played throughout the house and lights slowly burned out. List left a confession letter claiming financial troubles and religious concerns drove him to kill his family, then disappeared, leaving investigators with everything they needed for prosecution except the killer himself.

  • The Reclusive List Family and Their Mysterious Disappearance
  • Warning Signs Ignored: Patricia's Desperate Plea for Help

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

The Tragic Case of Molly Bish  Molly Bish was 16 years old and working as a lifeguard at Comins Pond in Warren. She’d only been working there about a week on June 27th, 2000 when her mother dropped ...

Summary Preview

This episode of Morbid covers the tragic 2000 disappearance and murder of 16-year-old Molly Bish, a lifeguard who was abducted from her post at Commons Pond in Warren, Massachusetts. The hosts discuss the investigation, multiple persons of interest, and the Bish family's tireless advocacy work. The episode includes an interview with Molly's sister Heather about their efforts to pass familial DNA legislation in Massachusetts and solve Molly's case.

  • Introduction and Case Background
  • The Disappearance and Initial Investigation

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

Weirdos! We're revisiting Whitechapel in this MASSIVE episode which includes all 5 episodes of Alaina's Roman Empire, Jack the Ripper! Alaina takes us to the streets of Whitechapel for part one of J...

Processing... (Downloading)

This Bonus Episode is brought to YOU by our friends at State Farm! Weirdos!! Get ready to return to Forks for the epic conclusion of our MORBID recap of the Twilight franchise!  Today we're diving i...

Summary Preview

Ash and Alaina wrap up their Twilight saga journey by dissecting Breaking Dawn Part 2 (the movie) and Part 3 (the book). They critique Bella's transformation into a 'baby girl' vampire who faces zero consequences, Jacob's disturbing imprinting on infant Renesmee, the anti-climactic fake battle scene, and how the entire series built tension only to deliver no meaningful stakes. They also explore Edward's true feelings about Bella versus other women through Midnight Sun revelations.

  • Introduction and Breaking Dawn Setup
  • Bella's Perfect Transformation and Baby Girl Treatment

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

On the morning of March 20, 1995, millions of rush hours commuters boarded trains across Tokyo, just as they countless other mornings. Unbeknownst those millions of riders, five of those trains were c...

Summary Preview

This episode examines the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attacks by the cult Aum Shinrikyo, one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in Japan's history. The attack killed 13 people and injured nearly 6,000 others when cult members released nerve gas on five subway trains during rush hour. The episode traces the cult's evolution from a spiritual movement to a violent apocalyptic group, their failed attempts at chemical warfare, and the aftermath of their devastating attack.

  • The Tokyo Subway Attack
  • The Clean-Up Crew's Tragedy

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

Weirdos! We are 7 days away from PUB DAY for THE BUTCHER LEGACY, and we're celebrating with a special sneak peak of the audio title! We are thrilled to introduce you to the newest member of the cast, ...

Summary Preview

Brothers announce exciting casting news for The Butcher Legacy audiobook, revealing that Carrie Height will be voicing the character John LaRue. The hosts express their enthusiasm about the growing cast and share an exclusive excerpt featuring Carrie's performance as Detective John LaRue responding to a disturbing crime scene call near Halloween.

  • Casting Announcement: Carrie Height as John LaRue
  • Exclusive Audio Excerpt: Detective LaRue at the Crime Scene

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

When a realtor entered the Toronto home of Barry and Honey Sherman on December 15, 2017, she expected the couple to be out of town and the house to be empty. The agent showed a young couple around the...

Summary Preview

Elena and Ash cover the unsolved 2017 murders of Barry and Honey Sherman, a billionaire pharmaceutical CEO and his philanthropic wife found dead in their Toronto mansion. Despite extensive investigation, the bizarre staged crime scene and lack of evidence has left this case cold, with theories ranging from business rivals to disgruntled family members.

  • Discovery of the Bodies
  • Initial Investigation and Murder-Suicide Theory

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

For this month's bonus episode, we are joined by one of our favorite storytellers, Aaron Mahnke of Lore Podcast, to discuss his upcoming book  Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire. ...

Summary Preview

Aaron Manke, creator of the award-winning podcast Lore, joins Morbid to discuss his new book Exhumed, which explores the Mercy Brown vampire panic case and the cultural context that made such beliefs possible in 19th century New England. The conversation covers folklore, historical medical practices, witch trials, and the human tendency to create explanations for the unknown. Manke shares insights from over a decade of researching dark history and folklore, discussing everything from corpse medicine to the origins of Lore itself.

  • Introduction and Book Overview
  • The Origins of the Lore Podcast

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →

Weirdos! Let's pack up the MORBID family station wagon and get ready to go on a little vacation! This time, Deb has found vacation tales that will have you freaked out AND cackling with laughter. OH! ...

Processing failed

After Lorenna Bobbitt’s husband John sexually assaulted her at their home in Virginia in the summer of 1993, she retaliated by waiting until he was asleep, she decided to fight back. Following the att...

Summary Preview

Ash and Alaina dive into the infamous 1993 case of John and Lorena Bobbitt, examining the tumultuous marriage, allegations of abuse, and the shocking act of violence that made international headlines. The hosts explore the media circus, legal proceedings, and aftermath of this case that sparked a national debate about domestic violence, marital rape, and gender dynamics in the 1990s.

  • Introduction and Personal Updates
  • Case Introduction: The Bobbitt Marriage Begins

Want the full summary? Read the full episode summary →